Mud gun



Nov. 29, 1932. E. E. BROSIUS MUD GUN Filed Feb. 10, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 4 x x Q Nov.29,-1932. E. E. BRosus ,ss9,433

MUD GUN Filed Feb. 10. 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 MUD GUN Filed Feb. 10. 1932 3 sheets-she e t 3 C'I'NVTOR I Patenta! Nov. 29, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application med February 10. 1932. serial lo. &02,094.

The present invention relates broadly to the iron and steel industry and more particu larly to that phase thereof having to do with the proper operation of furnaces, such for example, as blast furnaces.

During the manufacture of ferrous materials, it is necessary after they have been reduced to the desired molten condition in a furnace to tap the same to permit the charge to be drawn from the furnace. Necessarily the point at which the charge is withdrawn must be at a point sufliciently low to permit emptying the furnace to the desired extent. Thereafter it becomes necessary to efl'ect closing of the tapping opening.

Due to the hi h temperatures prevailing in the vicinity o a urnace of the character in question, any operation which must be manually performed in the vicinity of the furnace, and more especially at a point where there is a possibility of molten metal breaking through the furnace and injuring the workmen, is dangerous. One of the objects of the resent invention is to provide an improve form of apparatus for more nearly automatically accomplishing the closing of an opening of the character referred to. Such forms of apparatus are customarily referred to in the art as mud guns, and specifically the invention may be considered as relatng to improvements in the construction, mounting and operation of such guns.

It is well understood by those skilled in the art that mud guns comprise means for 3 feedmg a redetermined amount of a suitable clay li e material ot' proper consistency into a tapping opening. The feeding of the clay n order to provide an effective closure must be under such pressure as to not only 4 etfectively seal the opening, but also to seal such opening against the full pressure conditons obtaining within the furnac'e. There is therefore involved the question of the quantity of clay which may be fed, and the 4 pressure under which the clay may be delivered into the opening.

A second requirenent has to do with the ability to maintain the gun in the proper relative position to the furnace during the clay feedmg operation. If relative outward movement between the gun and furnace is permitted at this time, a proper closure cannot be efl'ected. Heretofore t has been customary to rely upon latches or clamping arms of one form or another for temporarily maintaning the gun in cooperative cla feeding relation to the furnace. Failure o the latch mechanism or relative movement between any of the urnace parts and any of the latch parts, or any of the latch parts and the gun so may result in defeating the purpose intended.

The present invention has for another of its objects improvements both in the mechanism for bringing the gun into clay feeding position, and for mantaining it in such position throughout the entire hole closing operation.

It is also customary in the art to provide a splasher late in a position adjacent the tapping ho e or iron notch of the furnace restng on top of the trough for the purpese of preventing damage to the front of the furnace when metal is fiowing. In order to move a mud gun into hole closng position, it has heretofore been necessary to first separately move the' splasher plate to inoperatve position in order to permit the clay nozzle of the gun to approach and enter the tapping hole. This splasher plate moving operation 0 having been independent of the movement of the gun, has always presented the possibility either of too early a removal, with consequent damage to the front of the :furnace, or too late a removal with ossibilty of resultant injury either to the urnace, the mud gun, or both.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an Operating connection between the gun and the splasher plate, whereby the splasher plate is automatically moved in a predetermined timed relationship to the movement of the gun either to or from its operative hole closng position. In this respect it will be apparent that after a hole has been closed, it is necessary to 'Swing the gun bodil to such a position that it will not be su jected to 'the heat of the molten metal duringa subsequent tap ing operation. During such movement of t e gun to inoperative `ries the gun position the splasher plate is automatically moved into position over the trough, while during movement of the gun into o rative position the splasher plate is move in the opposite direction.

Still another object of the invention is to provide im rovements in the mud gun structure where y the parts having been moved into the required operative relationship, the desired quantity of hole closing material under the necessary pressure may be quickly fed into the tapping bole.

In the accon anying drawin I have shown more or ess diagrammatcally, and for purposes of illustration only, one embodiment of the present invention. In the drawings:

Figura 1 is a top plan view of one form of apparatus constructed in acoordance with the present invention;

Fgure 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1, showing {Iboi gun in position for closing a tapping Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus illustrated in Figura 1;

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 2 illustrating diagrammatically a modified embodiment of the splasher plate moving means;

Figure 5 is a view partly in longitudinal section and partly in elevation of the gun shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but turned at 90 therefrom; and

Figur-e 7 is a detail sectional view along the line VII-VII of Figure 6.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, I have illustrated a rtion of a furnace wall 2 with a tapping ole 3 formed adjacent the hearth portion thereof and adapted when open to deliver molten metal to an iron trough 4 through the space below a splasher plate 5 provided for t e purpose of protecting the front of the furnace from injury due to splashing of the iron.

In a position adjacent the furnace wall and spaced laterally from the tappng hole there is indicated one of the furnace columns 6 around which extends a clamp or bracket 7 providing a hearing support for a shaft 8 carrying a gun supporting arm 9 which car- G. Rigidly Secured to the furnaoe wall in a plane above the plane of the tapping hole 3 is a bracket 10 in which is pivotally mounted one end of a tubular spacing sleeve 11 adapted to project outwardly from the furnaee wall a predetermned distance and contact with the gun arm 9 when the gun is in operative position as shown in Figura 2 for positively limiting the travel ot the gun toward the furnaee.

In aeeordance with the present inventiun,

however, this s acing feature may be eliminated by provi ing a relatively shorter arm as will be hereinafter more fully apprent. Dead-ended to the arm 11 preferably at a point within the same is one end of a gun swinging cable 12. The free end of the gun swnging cable passes outwardly around a drum 14 to a guide 15 on the gun arm shaft 8 and thence over a pulley 16 to a counterweight or slack take-up mcchanism 17. Carried by the gun arm 9 is a gun Swingmg and positioning motor 18 the armature shaft of which is operatively connected to a worm 19 in mesh with a worm wheel 20 on a drum shaft '21 carrying the drum 14.

With the parts in the position illustrated in Figura 1, assuming a counterweight 17 or slack adjusting mechanism of proper weight or construction, if the motor 18, which is of the reversible type, is rotated in such direction as to turn the drum 14 in a clockwise direction as viewed in this figure, the gun arm and the gun will be bodil swung from the full line position indicate in this figure into the dotted line or inoperat'ive position. With the arts in the dotted line position, rotation of t e motor in the oppo site direction will move the gun into its full line position. It will be understood that in order to give to the gun the desired modified path of travel required to permit such movement into' and out of operative position, I may utilize a movement modifying or compensating means of suitable constructon such, for example, as the link 18 and its Operating connections :s disclosed in my Patent No. 13654502 of May 7, 1918. There will also preferably be utilized a suitable tilting means for the gun, such as a tilting eable 22 corresponding to the member 18 of Berg Patent No. 1,121,224 of December 15, 1914.

During movement into operative position,

. with a spacer 11 of the length illnstrated for example in Fi s 1 and 2, the gun arm will contact the outer end of the spacer in such manner that further inward movement of the gun will be precluded. Thereupon, continued o ration of the motor 18 will tighten the rton of the gun swinging cable 12 exten ing between the drum 14 and the point at which the cable is dead-ended on the spacer, thereby placing this portion of the cable under sufiicient tension for precluding any outward movement of the gun. Due to the use of a worm driving connection between the motor 18 and the drum 14, it is possible by utilizing such a pitch that the worm is irreversible, to positive] lock the drum 14 against undesired rotaton at this time, and thereby preclude any outward movement of the gun.

It will be understood that in accordance with the present invention, I utilize a common mechanism for both swinging the gun and looking the gun in operative position; the

holding function becoming effective immediately upon the conclusion of the swinging function, thereby obviating any time interval such as heretofore required or the proper operation of sup 'lemental latchingor clamping means. In tis manner, it is possible to move the gun into operative position and secure it against movement from this position in much less time than has heretofore been considered possible, and to accomplish this dual function with a single mechanism and driving means.

, The connectionbetweenthe gun G and the arm 9 preferably coinprises a suitable pivotal monnting 23413 illustrated more particularly in Figura 2, such a mounting permitting the de'sired tilting of the un. Th'e ivota] nounting 23 is preferab y supporta from the gun arm 9 through the medium'of a suitable hearing, such as an anti-friction bearinp; 24 permitting the necessa swiveliing movement between the gun and te arm as required by the coinpensating mechanism or path modifying mechanism before referred to.

In accordance with the present invention, the g'un G, as illustrated more particularly in Figures 5 and 6, provides a main clay ba'rel 25 of generally cylindrical contour having a char e openin 26 adapted to be closed at will y a suita le closu'e plate 27. Carried by the front of the clay barrel 25 is a nozzle 28 of the desired configuration to properly cooperate with the tappng hole 3. This nozzle in accordance with my invention is prefi erably carried by a pivot 29 permittin the noz zl e to be swung at will into the dotte line position of Figure 6, as may be required for properly cleaning the same. For locking the nozzle in alinement with the clay barrel, there may be provided a pin bracket 30 through which extends a lockng pin 31 into engag' ment w th an opening 32 in the nozzle. Thus, by merely movng the pin 31 the nozzle may be released for swinging movement, or locked n alinement with the bari-el preparatory to a clay feeding operation. i

ecured to the opposite end of the burrel through the medium of upper and lower removable pins or keys 33 and 34, respectivelv, s a gear housing 35. Projecting rearwar ly from the gear housing is a bracket 36 carrying a gun motor 37 VVithin the clay barrel is a piston 38 having projecting rearwardly therefrom through the gear housing 35 and bracket 36 a piston in the form of a rack 39. While this rack may be of either s ngle -or double Construction. i. e., provided either with teeth on one or both sicles thereo'f, I preferably utilize uvdouble rack as shown moreparticularly in Figura 7 of the drawngs. Mounted within the gear housing 35 on suitable shafts 40 and 41.4are rack pinions 42 and 43 meshing respectiv ely with the rack teeth on opposite sides of the rack and con- A be bodily removed from the barrel.

stituting a symmetrical driving means thereable reduction gearing 49.

The barrei having been filled with clay, and the gun moved into its operative position 'of F igure 2, the motor 37 is energized for advancing the piston 38 -and thus expelling the contents of the burrel through the nozzle 28 into the tapping hole. This burrel is preferably of such Capacity as to provide more than sutiicient clay for any average hole closing operation and a suflicient reserve supply to take care even of the unusual conditions sometimes encountered. After the desired amount of clay has been discharged from the gun, the motor 37 may be stopped. and the gun held in the position shown n Figure 2 for a suflicient length of time to insure setting of the clay. During this setting time, it will be understood that the ,gun Construction must be such as to withstand the pressure conditions within the furnace.

To this end, I preferably utilize an irrerorsibleworn 47 capable of positively locking the piston 38 in the position to which it has been moved by the motor, so that the piston constitutes a positive abutment against which the clay may not move backwardly. The desired setting time having elapsed, the gun may be swung to its inoperative dotted line-position of Figure 2, the nozzle 28 released and swung to its dotted line position of Figre 6 and easily cleaned before opportunity is ail'orded for undue solidification of the clay remaining therein;

If it is desired for any reason to efl'ect separation of the clay barrel from its operating mechanism, 'it is merely necessary to withdraw the pins or keys 33 and 34. whereupon the housing 35, motor 37 and piston 38 with their respective associated parts may It will thus be seen that ready access to either end of the barrel mav he had at the will of the operator. It will further be noted that the construction is such that the gear housing 35,

.shift is driven by the motor 37 through suitlli width than the rack, so that claylea ng past the upper portion of the piston and dro pink? downwardly will be caught by 'the s el Upon the reverse movement of the rack, any accumulated clay on the shield will be scraped therefrom by the face plate 60 and diseharged through the opening' 51. r

Reference 'has heretofore been made to the fact that the rack 39 extends completely through the bracket 36.` In actual practice, this bracket'will preferably be of such construction as to provide a complete housing or enclosure for the` raek, thereby protecting it not only against gcssible accumulatons of foreign material, ut also against the heat of the trough and the possibility of any molten metal splashing onto or injuring the same. Duringthe swinging movements-of the gun, this brackct enclosure likewise protects the rack a ainst mecbanical injury.

For partially asssting in guiding the rack during its movements, I preferably provide therefor a roller support 53 carried by the gear housing 35 within a shield 54 and preferably at a point adjacent the junction between the gear housing and the motor hracket.

It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that by mounting the motor 37 above g the bracket 36 and providing, if desired, a heat slield plate 55 between the bracket and the motor, the operating parts of the motor are completely protected from injury by rea` son* of excessve temperature conditions. The construction is such that not only is the lay barrel, which is least susceptible to inury, in a position adjacent the maximum heat and the Operating parts in a position remote from such beat, but that the motor is further elevated appreciably with respect to the trougl and thereby additionally protected; This furth er' enables the wor 47 and worm gear 46 to be located at a. poin remote from the heat of the trough whereby it is ..ossible to maintain proper lnbrieation thereor at all times. 4 v

It has heretofore been proposed in the art to efiect the forward movement of a pisten of the general 'character herein contemplated by means of a suitable screw and actuating connection::. In practice, however, it has been found that the rotative tendency of the screw is transmitted to the pisten n such mamer that it is necessary to provide special guiding means for the piston itself such gu ding means necessarly being located within the body of the clay barrel. By utilizing a. rack, this rotative tendency is entirely obviated so thatthe interior of the clay barrel ma be maintained entirely free from any suc iding means.

Re erence has heretofore been made to the splasher plate 5. This splasler plate at one side thereof is provided with a pivotal mounting 56 permitting the same to be swung to inoperative position. For swinging the splasher plate, it is provided with an eye 57 within which is connected a cable 58 passing upwardly from the splasher plate around a guide 59 and thence t'o an arm 60 rojecting outwardly from the upper end of t e shaft 8.' Cooperating with the pulley 59 may be a guide roller 61 effective for maintaining the cable in the pulley groove, the pulley 59 being mounted in a suitable hracket 62 secured to the fal-nare column (i. When the gun moves from its inm'ertive dotted line position 'of Figure 1 to its operative full line position, the arm'GO will exert tension on the cable 58, thereby lifting the splasler plate, the speed of lifting being synchronized to the Swinging speed of the gun. Upon movement of the parts in the reverse direction, the splasher plate will be lowered 'synchronously with the swinging speed of the (fun parts. In this manncr -possibility of amage by collision between the parts is precluded.

In Figure 4. I have illustrated a slightly modified enbodiment of the invention, wherein the nozzle 28' of the gun is shown as having a can track 63 thereon of such Construction as to engage under the splasher plate 5' and radually lift the same as the gun is swung into position. Due to the location of the motor and its Operating 'parts entirely rearwardly of the pivotal mountin 23 as shown in Figure 2,it is a comparative y simple matter to suiiiciently over-counterbalance the [weight of-the forward portion of the gun in such manner that the gun may carry the additional weight of the splasher plate without disturbing the proper position of the gun. In this manner the splasher plate may be operated directly by the gun in predetermined relationship to the gun position. 4

The advantages of the present invention arise from` the provision of an improved gun structure having improved positoning and holding means therefor, whereby a single mechanism 'may be utilized for not only swinging the gun into o erative position, but for automatically holding it against movement from such position. i

- Still further advantages arise from means whereby a predetermined relationship between the position of the gun and the splasher plate may be insured.

Other advantages arise from the various ,details of construction and, operation as herein set forth.

While I have herein illustrated' and described certain preferred embodiments of the resent invention, together with prefe'red eatures of Construction, it will be understood therein, and Operating means for the piston V including 'a gear housing detachably Secured to said barreli 3. In a mud gun, a clay barrel, a. pisten therein, and Operating means for the pisten including a gear housing detachabl Secured to said burrel, at points above and elow the barrel only.

4. In a mud gun, a clay barrel, a pisten t'herein, Operating means for said piston incIud-ing a gear' housing detachably secured to said barrel, and a motor bracket projecting rearwardly from said housin 5. In a mud gun, a`clay arrel, a pisten therem, Operating means or said pisten, in-

cluding a gear housing detachably secured to said barrel, and a motor bracket projecting rearwardly from said housing, there being a motor supported on and above said bracket.

6. In a mud gun, a clay bari-el, a piston therein, Operating means for the pistonincluding a ear housing detachably secured to said barre and a piston rod comprising a g rack movable through said housing.

providing an opening 7. In a mud gun, a clay barrel, a piston therein, Operating means for the pisten including a gear housing detachably'secured to said barrel, a motor bracket projecting rearwardly from said housing, a motor mounted' on said bracket, and a piston rod comprisin a rack movable' through said (housing an bracket below the motor.

8. In a mud gun, a claybarrel, a pisten therein, Operating means for the' piston including a said barre a motor bracket projecting -rearwardly from said housing, a motor mounted on said bracket, and a pisten rod comprisin a rack movable through said housing an bracket below the motor, said bracket constitutn a protective enclosure for said rack.

9. n a mud' gun, a clay barrel, a pisten therein, and operatin means for the piston including a gear housing detachably Secured to said barrel, said gear housing and barrel therebetween'for the discharge of clay passin 'the piston.

10. In a mud gun, a c ay burrel, a piston therein, a pston rod, means for moving said iston rod, a shield over-lying said pisten rod or preventing clay passm the pisten from dropping onto said rod, an means for scraping such clay from the shield.

'11. In a mud gun, a clay burrel, a piston therein, a pisten rod, means for moving said pisten rod, a shield overlying said piston rod ar housing detachably Secured to for peventing clay passin 3 pisten from dropping ont said rod,.a n` meas or craping such clay from the sheld, therebeingp discharge openingadjacentthe rear of sad barre! for such c ay.

12. In a mud gun, a claybari'lvikpiston in said barrel, a rack forfmovng said ton and motor means' located abovefthe p ane o said rock for driving the same.

therein, a rack Secured to andproj'ectig from sad ston, and means for dr vng sai rack n et er direction. 1 u

13' Ina mud adela i b rrehi l i i n` therein, a rack Secured to and projecting from said piston, and means for driving said rack in either direction, said means including a worm and worm wheel above the plane of said rack.

15. In a mud gun, a clay barr-el, a pisten therein, a rack projectingi rearwar dl p from said piston for moving the same, and riving means for said 'rck includingaworm, worm gear and motor above the plane of said rack. 16. In a mud gun, a claybarre hapiston therein, a rack projectin rearwardly 'from said piston for moving t e same, and driving means for said rack including a worm,

worm gear and motor above the plane of said rack and rearwardly of said barrel. p

17. In a mud gun, a support, a gun arm and gun swingngly carried by said support, and

common means for swinging said gun arm and gun into operative hole closing position and holding the same against movement from such position.

18. In a mud gun, a su port, a gun arm and gun swingingly carried y said s33port, and common means for swinging sai gun arm and gun into operative hole closing position and holding the same against movement from such position, said means including a single cable and drum around which the cable passes. e

19. In a mud gun, a. suport, a gun arm and gun swingingly carried y sad su port, and common' means for swinging sai gun arm and gun into operative hole closing position v and holding the same against movement from such position, said means including a single cable and drum around which the cable asses, together with a motor mounted on sad gun arm for rotating said drum.

20. The combination with a furnace, of a l l mud gun support, a gun arm swingingly' secured to said support, a gun carried by said arm, a splasher plate, and means for simultaneously moving said gun and splasher 22. The combination with a furnace, of a mud gun a eable extending between said furnace and gun for drawing the gun toward the furnaee, and means for holding the cable whereby the gun may be locked n position against movement away from the furnace.

23. The combination with a furnace of a mud gun, a cable extending between said furnace and gun for drawing the un toward the furnaee, and means for hol ing the cable whereby the gun may be locked in osition against movement away from the urnace, said last mentioned means including a cable drum and irreversible drive therefor.

In testimony whereoi I have hereunto set m hand.

y EDGAR E. BROSIUS.4

DISCLAIMER 1,889,433.-Edgar E. Brosius, Pittsburgh, Pa. MUD GUN. Patent dated November 29, 1932. Disclaimer filed September 16, 1935, by the patentee.

Hereby disclaims because of the diseloeures in the following patente, to wit: Wagner, 23 416, M

August 30, 1904; Wund'aeh, 931363, August 17, 1909; Bazley, 1,002,487, 5, 1911; the sub ect matter of claims 12 and 13 of said Letters Patenta [Qficwl Gazee October 15, 1935.]

arch 25, 1859; Troxell, 73,410, January 14, 1868; Armstrong, 288,540, November 13, 1883; Vaughen, 544,551, August 13, 1895; McCarth ?69,186, ptem er 22. The combination with a furnace, of a mud gun a eable extending between said furnace and gun for drawing the gun toward the furnaee, and means for holding the cable whereby the gun may be locked n position against movement away from the furnace.

23. The combination with a furnace of a mud gun, a cable extending between said furnace and gun for drawing the un toward the furnaee, and means for hol ing the cable whereby the gun may be locked in osition against movement away from the urnace, said last mentioned means including a cable drum and irreversible drive therefor.

In testimony whereoi I have hereunto set m hand.

y EDGAR E. BROSIUS.4

DISCLAIMER 1,889,433.-Edgar E. Brosius, Pittsburgh, Pa. MUD GUN. Patent dated November 29, 1932. Disclaimer filed September 16, 1935, by the patentee.

Hereby disclaims because of the diseloeures in the following patente, to wit: Wagner, 23 416, M

August 30, 1904; Wund'aeh, 931363, August 17, 1909; Bazley, 1,002,487, 5, 1911; the sub ect matter of claims 12 and 13 of said Letters Patenta [Qficwl Gazee October 15, 1935.]

arch 25, 1859; Troxell, 73,410, January 14, 1868; Armstrong, 288,540, November 13, 1883; Vaughen, 544,551, August 13, 1895; McCarth ?69,186, ptem er 

